(Clearwisdom.net) On the evening of August 25, 2009, Shen Yun Performing Arts of New York performed the first in what will be a week-long run of performances at the the Kennedy Center Opera House in the nation's capital. The show opened to more than one thousand special guests who are government officials and celebrities. The enthralled audience gave a standing ovation at the end of the two and a half hours of performance, and the performers answered with two curtain calls.

 On the evening of August 25, 2009, Shen Yun Performing Arts of New York came to a successful conclusion at the Kennedy Center Opera House for its premiere show.

Executive Director of the Lantos Foundation: The performance really takes your breath away

At the VIP reception following the exclusive invitation-only show, daughter of the late Congressman Tom Lantos, Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, who is also executive director of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, shared her impression of the Shen Yun performance.

She said that the performance captured the classical tradition of Chinese culture, and that she had never seen anything to equal the show today, "It really takes your breath away, it truly does."

"Well, I thought there were a few numbers that I particularly enjoyed. The final number was beautiful and pulled it all together. I very much enjoyed the number of the floating sleeves, the arrival of spring; I could go on and on. If you get me started I won't be able to stop, because one was more beautiful than the other. I enjoyed the Tibetan mountain performance, and the drums, and the individual singers," Dr. Katrina Lantos-Swett commented.

Speaking of why the Lantos Foundation sponsored the show, Dr. Lantos-Swett said, "Well, when my father, the late congressman Tom Lantos, was alive, he was very, very concerned about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. He was really one of the Congress' leading fighters on behalf of human rights, and when he saw injustice in the world, he wanted to do something about it, and there's no doubt that Falun Gong have been the victims of a terrible injustice- they have been persecuted, jailed, they've suffered in terms of their professional lives, simply for their desire to peacefully practice their beliefs, and this is wrong, this is a violation of the universal declaration of human rights, it's a violation of the standards of justice and equality and human rights that all civilized society should cherish. And so when we became aware of this performance, and of course we're very much aware of the Falun Gong movement, and have many friends in that movement, we wanted to do something with them, to bring more attention not only to the talent of this tremendous performance troupe, but to the underlying issue of the need for them to have their rights, and to be protected in the practice of their beliefs."

She said that tonight many guests were invited by the Lantos Foundation, and she believed "they were incredibly impressed. We have members of Congress, of the Senate, we had former members of Congress, very top leaders from the State Department, the Department of Defense; we have a lot of people from the United States government here tonight, and I think they learned a great deal. They learned about traditional Chinese culture, they learned more about the spirit of Falun Gong, and so we got entertained and educated at the same time."

Former US ambassador: Shen Yun performance is a wonderful display of the real values

 Richard Swett, former U.S. ambassador to Denmark

Mr. Swett was deeply impressed by the show and said, "I think the show is a wonderful display of the real values that I know have been what have made the 5,000 year civilization of China so wonderfully strong and vibrant, and the color and the energy that these performers conveyed, along with the messages and the stories of these historical and traditional themes that have always permeated the culture, makes for just an extraordinarily clean and vibrant presentation." He said, "I was uplifted, I was filled with hope."

Mr. Swett said that he learned more each time he saw the Shen Yun performance, "This show had new elements in it that I hadn't seen before; ... they're always a little bit different and I always learn a little bit more, and even if I was watching the same one time and time again, I'll remember more the next time, and so I think I have another 10 performances that I need to go to before I'm fully up to speed on all of the messages and history that they've portrayed."

Event planner and jewelry maker: the show is just a feast for the eyes

 Ms. Nunu Dan, event planner and jewelry maker

Ms. Dan attended and enjoyed the Shen Yun performance at the Kennedy Center Opera House in February, so she especially came to attend tonight's show with her friend Judith Bostic-Dror.

She said, "Once again, the costumes are amazing; the music was amazing. It's just great to see the whole production again and to bring new friends to the performance as well."

"I think the whole show is just so visually, aesthetically pleasing that to look at the colors and also to hear the sounds is just a feast for the eyes."

Ms. Dan describes the opening as "definitely breathtaking." "You could hear the audience collectively gasp. ... The whole ensemble, it's a lot to take in. But it's amazing to see it, and also the way that [the whole performance] ends." She said, "Each new piece engages the audience and creates a desire to see what is coming next. The audience is never disappointed."

The most touching feature of the show for Ms. Dan was the music of the performances that conveyed "compassion, integrity, and truth throughout."

Ms. Judy Bostic-Dror added: "And also just persevering in the face of oppression. Not giving up hope when there are those who are willing to use violence against you and perhaps your peacefulness will inspire them to turn their lives around."

Virginia legislator regards herself as very very "fortunate" to have seen Shen Yun

Among the distinguished guests at the Kennedy Center Opera House was Vivian Watts of the nearby 39th district Virginia legislature.

"I found it absolutely exquisite," she said, "the talent of all the performances, the quality of the work. It was also very inspirational."

"The hope that was represented in the messages. The ongoing centuries of tradition and spirit carrying from one life to another--all very inspirational," she said.

She was captured by the whole show and said, "I think the whole ... the color, and the wonderful form and great talent of each of the individuals was something I will really carry away with me."

"I regard myself as being very very fortunate--very lucky to have this opportunity [to come to the show]."

A six-run show will be held at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center Opera House from Aug. 26 to 30.